MedievalResources
HERALDS and HERALDRY
The History
of
HERALDRY
Heraldry is the study and description of family crests and symbols displayed on a coats of arms. Once defined and established to be theirs they are used by individuals and families to proclaim their right to bear arms during the Middle Ages.
It's beginning can be attributed to the military's who needed to identify a friend and foe during war times and one-on-one combat.
BADGES
In the Middle Ages these Heraldric devices were veery common in England.
Each one displayed one to several elements taken from a coat of arms to display one's allegiance to a particular king or lord.
During the Middle Ages many were made of metal and worn on outer clothing, but fell into disuse when the Renaissance era came into being.
In 1906 the College of Arms in 1906 revived them by offering to include one with a new grant of arms. The grantee then had the right to accept one by paying higher fee for his Coat of Arms. When granted the badge typically illustrates the Letters Patent that contains the Grant of Arms on a Heraldic standard or flag.
KING of ARMS
Heralds were not at the beginning of knighthood, nor were they the voice of the king as we know them to be.
More than likely they began as commanders/controllers of the German armies known as ‘hiraut d‘armes’, with kings and countries showing indifference to that officers rank which eventually was demoted to tournament score keepers.
The word itself has no definable history nor which German word it actually derived from. Though unclear the closest one any historian can consider is their very ancient language word of ‘haren’ which means ‘calls out’.
First known accounts of a herald came from an eleventh century French poem, and the ‘Livre des Tournais de Roi Rene D'Anjou’ also tells what duties a herald performed during a tournament.
When not announcing tournament combatants they helped out on the field, kept score, were expected to answer questions, announce visitors, make proclamations and serve as the master of ceremonies at any and all occasions.
William Marshal’s own historical records include many of his tournaments where he states a ‘herald’ had the ability to make or break a knight’s reputation.
In their beginning they followed the tournament circuit performing nearly the same duties as a Minstrel, and even English history found them grouped with the harpers, performers and Minstrels, with the French poems showing a rivalry had grown between the two professions.
HERALDS RANKING
1. King of Arms
Master of heraldry, usually part of Royalty’s household/entourage.
2. Herald of Arms
Serves the King of Arms while still learning
3. Pursuivant
Apprentice serving any Herald above him as he learns heraldry.
- MESSENGER-at-ARMS runs errands and messages between Heralds
- HERALD/King of Arms in the Middle Ages was an officer who arranged tournaments, announced challenges, marshaled combatants, etc. and later employed by Royal and Noble’s to arrange processions, announce ceremonies, and regulate use of armorial bearings.
HERALDS duties include
1. Deciding on the proper badges or coat armor of the Nobility.
2. To grant, record and blazon arms.
3. Record lineages or genealogies.
HERALDS must KNOW
1. All rules of heraldry.
2. Every aspect of heraldry, its meaning, and representation.
3. Must be able to identify every knight and noble of the realm by their COA only.
4. Must be able to recite all of the realms history (in ancient times it was the entire lineagethe king and the entire lineage of those who married into it)
5. Must help any knight form his COA.
In 1871 a knight named Travers Twiss edited a survey or ‘Rolls’ series which became used as a primary source of English History. Found in it's fist section was a ’Black Book of the Admiralty’ which had the ‘Oath of the King of Arms’ recorded.
BASICS of that OATH
Along with his sworn fealty to the king he was also charged to swear an oath to;
1. Deliver any message to anyone the king commands.
2. Return any message as near as was spoken in words or substance.
3. Always keep secret unto yourself any message you bear for the king.
4. Always remain discreet in all that you hear except in treason.
5. Shall be a messenger of ‘War or Peace’ in times of either need.
6. Never utter a message to anyone other than your king or noble who sent you.
7. You are charged to be more cunning in your office to remain able to teach those below
you so as to be more eloquent and able to execute with more wisdom that which your
sovereign shall charge you.
8. You shall register, know and have knowledge of all nobles within your realm, who bear a
coat of arms in the service of your sovereign.
9. You shall teach all heralds and pursuivant who seek you out.
10. You shall always keep this oath faithfully.
11. You shall honor and worship noblesse and integrity of any peerage, and never blame
any nobleman unless you be charged to speak the truth by the king.
12. You shall register all acts of honor as they are done.
13. You shall carry and protect any military messages you are charged with.
14. You shall record all war casualties of the king’s knights and nobles first, then those of
the enemy.
PURSUIVANT OATH
1. You shall be humble, lowly, and serviceable to all estates.
2. You shall be discreet and sober in appearance.
3. Your reports shall be true as long as you hold office.
4. As Pursuivant you stand as the offices servant to all kings and heralds of the office of arms.
BOOKS of HERALDRY
Historical Guide to Arms & Armor by Stephen Bull
KING of ARMS officer who arranged tournaments, announced challenges, marshaled combatants etc. later came to arrange processions and regulate use of armorial bearings.
CARTULARY book of charters, deeds, legal documents of title to properties
CHANCELLOR officer in an order of knighthood who acts as secretary
DUTIES
1. Deciding proper badges or coat armor of the Nobility
2. To grant, record and blazon arms
3. Recorded Lineages
ENGLISH Principle Heralds
1. Garter the principal Kings-of-Arms
2. Clarenceaux
3. Norry
A. King-of-Arms for Scotland is called
B. King-of-Arms for Ireland is called Ulster
C. Lancaster herald is inspector of regimental colors
RALD/Heraldry 15th c. court officer who maintained rules by which a knights emblems
were organized for individuality. First Heralds were followers of the tournament circuit, paid as a jongleurs or minstrels, having different levels of rank.
HERALDIC/Heraldical pertaining to heralds or heraldry
HERALDICALLY in heraldic manner according to the rules of heraldry
HERALDRY art or science of blazoning/describing in proper terms a Coats of Arms, as well as rules governing their use, transmission, and connection with titular rank, family dignities and genealogies.
HERALD’S COLLEGE /College of Arms England’s royal corporation instituted in 1483 for armorial bearings, genealogies, honors, and precedence.
HERALDSHIP office or dignity of a herald.
HERALD’S TABARD once worn only by knights with their COA, now only worn by heralds and pursuivants-at-arms, embroidered with the arms of the sovereign.
HERALD’S TRICK/Engravers Trick conventional method of indicating a tincture, as to print or carve without color.
HERALD VISITATION made by a King-of-Arms every 30 years either personally or by deputy, to visit principal town of his province where he would summon all gentry to come forward and record their respective pedigrees and show title to their armorial bearings, all of which data would later be recorded at the College of Heralds. First visitation was commissioned by Henry VIII 1528, last taking place during James.